Living with Our Decisions

MEMORY SELECTION: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” —Proverbs 1:7

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Kings 12:11, 26-30

IN THE consideration of our memory selection we refer the reader to Moffatt’s translation, which says, “Reverence for the Eternal is the first thing in knowledge, but the impious scorn sagacity and intelligence.” We, as children of our Heavenly Father, do not “fear” him; but we grow to love and “reverence” him as the source of all life and blessing, both in this life and in the perfected life during the age of restitution. Thus reverence for God is the first step in the Christian’s walk of faithfulness. Those who have not such an attitude of heart cannot be led by him or learn of his ways of holiness and truth.

The man who ignores God is certainly not wise, and the man who opposes God is indeed a fool. The selected scripture reading for this week’s lesson centers around the separation of the ten tribes of Israel from the House of David—the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam was the leader in this insurrection and indicated a gross error on his part in his desire to be wise and therefore to neglect the providences which had been given him by God.

Jeroboam possessed the rare talent of leadership among men. King Solomon had noted this ability and had put Jeroboam in charge of a group of men who were given the task of building palaces and fortresses for the king. Later he became the leader of a party of discontents, who were unhappy to see the wealth of Israel being gathered at Jerusalem. After all, he no doubt reasoned, all the tribes were being similarly taxed, but the benefits went to the tribe of which the royal family were members. King Solomon quickly suppressed the rebellion, whereupon Jeroboam fled to Egypt. After Solomon’s death, however, Jeroboam returned to become the spokesman of the ten tribes, who then demanded certain things from Rehoboam, who had become the new king, as Solomon’s successor.

Under Jeroboam’s leadership the ten tribes of Israel revolted against the House of David and established themselves as a new and separate kingdom. Their object was to free themselves from the oppression of the kings. Whatever good intentions may have been in Jeroboam’s mind at the time respecting the rights and liberties of the people, he did, nevertheless, manifest a willingness to ignore God and the instructions that had been given to the people.

The divine arrangement for the nation of Israel was that its affairs were all to be under the care of God, with the royal line of David as God’s representatives. Under these circumstances the religious interests of the people were centered around the temple at Jerusalem.

Jeroboam, on the other hand, sought to preserve his own power by establishing a new system of religion. Two golden calves were set up, one located in the northern part of the territory, and the other in the southern part. This effort gave the impression that religious worship and sacrifice could be performed at one place as well as at another. He also established religious festivals at times of the year which were different from those generally known at Jerusalem. The overall plan was to lead the people away from the accepted religion of the Israelites. The fact is that his plan met with a great deal of success, as the people forsook the arrangements that had been given them under divine supervision and, instead, followed Jeroboam and the new religious ceremony.

The rebellion of Jeroboam and the ten tribes of Israel indicates God’s willingness to allow certain events to take place as tests upon his people. In due time it will be seen that all of God’s purposes will be accomplished and that the word which has gone forth out of his mouth shall not return unto him void but shall accomplish that which he pleases and shall prosper in the thing whereunto he sent it.—Isa. 55:11

Those who would seek their own advantage will ultimately destroy their relationship with God. God’s people must trust in the Heavenly Father. This includes a faith in him that he will work out all things for our ultimate good—especially to them who love him and who are called according to his purpose.

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